3 soldiers killed, several injured in Somalia landmine blast

By Magdalene Mukami

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - Three Somali soldiers were killed and several others injured on Monday after their convoy ran over a landmine planted along the roadside in the country’s central region of Hiiraan, police said.

The incident took place in Mataban, a town located 405 kilometers (251 miles) from the capital Mogadishu.

Two journalists were among those wounded, Dini Ahmed, a police spokesman told reporters.

The injured were rushed to Guri El, Galgadud region, for treatment and would be airlifted to Mogadishu later on Monday for further treatment.

According to Garowe Online media outlet, military officials said that fighting continues in the Mataban town between government forces and al-Shabaab terrorists.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but police have indicated that the al-Shabaab terrorist group has carried out similar bombings in the past.

Somalia has been in a state of insecurity since the emergence of al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group that has been fighting against the government forces and African Union peacekeepers in the country.